[Koshien 2026] Okinawa Shogaku’s Ryosuke Sueyoshi: “I Want to Make This a Summer with No Regrets”—The Determination and Confidence of the Returning Ace

The “Super High School-Level Player” Setting Midsummer Koshien Ablaze: Ryosuke Sueyoshi [Okinawa Shogaku]

The 108th National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien) has finally kicked off. One of the most anticipated matchups in the first round is Yokohama vs. Okinawa Shogaku, a clash between last spring’s and last summer’s champions.Okinawa Shogaku features Ryosuke Sueyoshi, who performed as an ace pitcher—despite being only a sophomore—at last fall’s U-18 World Cup.

During practice at Koshien on July 31, Sueyoshi was wearing the number “1.” Due to an injury to his left elbow, he had been assigned the number “10” for the Okinawa Prefectural Tournament and had ceded the ace’s number to his right-handed pitching rival, Yuto Aragaki, with whom he has been competing to improve.

However, he demonstrated his return to form by throwing 147 km/h in the Okinawa Tournament final and was carried aloft by his teammates after the game, regaining his status as the ace.

“I think my form is improving, and just stepping onto the Koshien stage will naturally make me even better. Because there was a period when I couldn’t pitch, I focused on narrowing down the pitches I was looking for when stepping into the batter’s box and reevaluated my batting technique. As a result, when I took the mound, I could tell what pitches the batters were looking for and was able to time my pitches better.”

The turning point in his recovery came from a single remark by Manager Koya Higa.

“He pointed out, ‘Was your two-step motion really this big?’ So I tried going back to my original form, and it just clicked.”

That said, I get the impression that he’s put on a bit of muscle compared to last summer.

“People say that a lot, but I haven’t grown any taller, and my weight hasn’t changed at all…”

Perhaps the experience of winning the Japan Series last summer and representing the nation, along with the confidence he gained from it, is what makes Sueyoshi stand out.

“I’m even more hungry for victory, and the feeling that I simply can’t afford to lose is stronger than ever. I want to make this a summer with no regrets.”

From the August 21 & 28, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*